[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by Brad on 15:24 19 Mar 2005
Hi gang,
First, short of the server dying, all our data is safe. I just want to reassure everyone. We use simple flat files right now which are basically simple text files and hard to corrupt.
With that said, my hosting company shut down the entire site for awhile today because they found a vulnerability in our Ikonboard forum script - that is the software that runs the forum. Vulnerability, means that somebody either was or could either hack the server or run a malicious script via that vulnerability. Fortunately, din and I happened to be hanging out chatting when the email from the hosting company came in and din was able to change quickly into his cape and install patches to the program.
After that they turned the site back on again.
I'm sort of thinking out loud here and wondering if maybe it is time to upgrade the forums? I should be able to even get the old posts and memberships converted.
The one downside is we might loose our black/gray color skin.
My main worry is causing any discomfort to you the members. We don't have any emergency, but I am just starting to get a little worried about the badguys zeroing in on Ikonboards. If they have found a vulnerability they will keep on trying.
So I would appreciate your thoughts, please.
Hi gang,
First, short of the server dying, all our data is safe. I just want to reassure everyone. We use simple flat files right now which are basically simple text files and hard to corrupt.
With that said, my hosting company shut down the entire site for awhile today because they found a vulnerability in our Ikonboard forum script - that is the software that runs the forum. Vulnerability, means that somebody either was or could either hack the server or run a malicious script via that vulnerability. Fortunately, din and I happened to be hanging out chatting when the email from the hosting company came in and din was able to change quickly into his cape and install patches to the program.
After that they turned the site back on again.I'm sort of thinking out loud here and wondering if maybe it is time to upgrade the forums? I should be able to even get the old posts and memberships converted.
The one downside is we might loose our black/gray color skin.
My main worry is causing any discomfort to you the members. We don't have any emergency, but I am just starting to get a little worried about the badguys zeroing in on Ikonboards. If they have found a vulnerability they will keep on trying.
So I would appreciate your thoughts, please.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 08:20 20 Mar 2005
As Brad said there isn't any emergency. Though, yesterday we were a little concerned when the site was shut down. The last week or so there were some small problems with pages not loading correctly, particularly when posting.
One of the avenues being looked at is making the step from free scripts to buying a liscense for a professional one. The primary concern is having something that will be more proactive in security issues and the retention of data through an upgrade.
As Brad said there isn't any emergency. Though, yesterday we were a little concerned when the site was shut down. The last week or so there were some small problems with pages not loading correctly, particularly when posting.
One of the avenues being looked at is making the step from free scripts to buying a liscense for a professional one. The primary concern is having something that will be more proactive in security issues and the retention of data through an upgrade.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by Haruchai on 18:35 20 Mar 2005
Personally I'd be willing to go with whatever everyone thinks is best, to the point of donating what little money I could if we decided to upgrade.
My biggest concern would be the possible loss of data here at the board, though Ari and I could probably save everything we'd like to from the games to our own PC's. Everything is text, and can easily be saved, really.
I sure wouldn't feel uncomfortable, even if the site was down for a few days, if I knew that we'd be more secure when things were back online. I mean, there are some places I visit and it seems like servers are down all the time. This place hardly ever goes down, and is always up and running basically 365/24.
Personally I'd be willing to go with whatever everyone thinks is best, to the point of donating what little money I could if we decided to upgrade.
My biggest concern would be the possible loss of data here at the board, though Ari and I could probably save everything we'd like to from the games to our own PC's. Everything is text, and can easily be saved, really.
I sure wouldn't feel uncomfortable, even if the site was down for a few days, if I knew that we'd be more secure when things were back online. I mean, there are some places I visit and it seems like servers are down all the time. This place hardly ever goes down, and is always up and running basically 365/24.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 21:23 20 Mar 2005
Haru,
Brad and I have talked about data options and such .. I think if a change is made I'll download the whole database like I did for the UB one from PD (which I still have floating around) I can then pick out whichever threads you guys want and send them out .. it will save wear on the server and stuff. We can work out whatever details you are all comfortable with.. the database will exist indefinately on the server regardless of the forums be open or running or whatever
The second thing is more of a data project for me. We are thinking of me writing a small program that will create a sort of mini-site by parsing<--(brad 'parse' fan service) the public forums in this database. In this form all the stuff we've (mostly you all) posted over the years will still be publicly available. If this works out you'll be able to pick up your desired threads there also. It would be a simple matter to add a sitesearch from a major engine for that section.
We will address and make happy any concerns by any member as we do whatever we all decide to do.
Haru,
Brad and I have talked about data options and such .. I think if a change is made I'll download the whole database like I did for the UB one from PD (which I still have floating around) I can then pick out whichever threads you guys want and send them out .. it will save wear on the server and stuff. We can work out whatever details you are all comfortable with.. the database will exist indefinately on the server regardless of the forums be open or running or whatever
The second thing is more of a data project for me. We are thinking of me writing a small program that will create a sort of mini-site by parsing<--(brad 'parse' fan service) the public forums in this database. In this form all the stuff we've (mostly you all) posted over the years will still be publicly available. If this works out you'll be able to pick up your desired threads there also. It would be a simple matter to add a sitesearch from a major engine for that section.
We will address and make happy any concerns by any member as we do whatever we all decide to do.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by Arislyn on 07:50 21 Mar 2005
Well, I think Haru has already said what I wanted to say, so....yeah. I'm cool with anything that you guys want to do.
Well, I think Haru has already said what I wanted to say, so....yeah. I'm cool with anything that you guys want to do.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by Brad on 08:37 21 Mar 2005
Okay. This should be fairly painless...
We will set up a new forum script here. Once we get that running and the moderators and admin's settled in we will make this board read-only until din can parse the old database into an archive. Once that is done we will remove the old Ikonboard script. Once the archive is up we will figure out a way to link to it from the new forum.
The new forum script has been purchased and it should not be too hard to set up. It has a few extra features than this one like: shoutbox, personal guestbook, and each member will have a private personal area where they can bookmark threads that they find important. Plus it has more smilies.
I will move member ranks and post counts too.
If anyone has suggestions or questions please let me know.
Okay. This should be fairly painless...
We will set up a new forum script here. Once we get that running and the moderators and admin's settled in we will make this board read-only until din can parse the old database into an archive. Once that is done we will remove the old Ikonboard script. Once the archive is up we will figure out a way to link to it from the new forum.
The new forum script has been purchased and it should not be too hard to set up. It has a few extra features than this one like: shoutbox, personal guestbook, and each member will have a private personal area where they can bookmark threads that they find important. Plus it has more smilies.
I will move member ranks and post counts too.
If anyone has suggestions or questions please let me know.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 10:31 21 Mar 2005
I have it set up now. It is installed waiting for brad to go through and build the categories and for the subdomain name to come through the dns servers.
I created and downloaded TAR file of the iB database and had a look through it. All told it is about 9.76 Mb in size which will build a nice sized archive. The only thing I'll produce, or even look at is the open public fourms, not PMs or any other user data besides a username to go with the archived posts.
I'll download a fresh one after Brad turns the forum to read only so that the information is as fresh as possible.
I have it set up now. It is installed waiting for brad to go through and build the categories and for the subdomain name to come through the dns servers.
I created and downloaded TAR file of the iB database and had a look through it. All told it is about 9.76 Mb in size which will build a nice sized archive. The only thing I'll produce, or even look at is the open public fourms, not PMs or any other user data besides a username to go with the archived posts.
I'll download a fresh one after Brad turns the forum to read only so that the information is as fresh as possible.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by Haruchai on 21:10 21 Mar 2005
Sounds great!
Just try to give me some fore-warning if you can, Brad, before making the board read-only. I am running a game, and would like to make sure that everyone knows what is going on in case they haven't read this thread.
Thanks!
Sounds great!
Just try to give me some fore-warning if you can, Brad, before making the board read-only. I am running a game, and would like to make sure that everyone knows what is going on in case they haven't read this thread.
Thanks!
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by Brad on 21:40 21 Mar 2005
No problem. We are getting the board set up as we speak and fixing bugs.
We will probably have all the staff test the features to make sure they work first.
No problem. We are getting the board set up as we speak and fixing bugs.
We will probably have all the staff test the features to make sure they work first.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by draconknight on 01:06 31 Mar 2005
did you guys all ready start today or Yesterday because i didnt get on line till 1:05 am march 31 so i have no idea if it was done or not? Just askin
did you guys all ready start today or Yesterday because i didnt get on line till 1:05 am march 31 so i have no idea if it was done or not? Just askin
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 07:01 31 Mar 2005
We haven't done anything here yet . You may be getting some of the general errors that encourage us to move.
There are a few problems we're trying to resolve with the help of the new forum's vender. We're hoping to have the mods come with a few days to break more stuff and put the finishing touches on things.
We haven't done anything here yet . You may be getting some of the general errors that encourage us to move.
There are a few problems we're trying to resolve with the help of the new forum's vender. We're hoping to have the mods come with a few days to break more stuff and put the finishing touches on things.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 07:03 31 Mar 2005
We haven't done anything here yet . You may be getting some of the general errors that encourage us to move.
There are a few problems we're trying to resolve with the help of the new forum's vender. We're hoping to have the mods come with a few days to break more stuff and put the finishing touches on things.
We haven't done anything here yet . You may be getting some of the general errors that encourage us to move.
There are a few problems we're trying to resolve with the help of the new forum's vender. We're hoping to have the mods come with a few days to break more stuff and put the finishing touches on things.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by Haruchai on 17:24 31 Mar 2005
Well, my game went "ka-put" Brad, so don't worry about that. Just a general heads-up will be fine.
Well, my game went "ka-put" Brad, so don't worry about that. Just a general heads-up will be fine.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 10:07 01 Apr 2005
i PMed the mods, not sure how many of them went out. We are ready for mod testing. The url and some notes are in the 'Moderators Lounge' any questions yu can try and PM Ari, Brad or me.
i PMed the mods, not sure how many of them went out. We are ready for mod testing. The url and some notes are in the 'Moderators Lounge' any questions yu can try and PM Ari, Brad or me.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 10:10 01 Apr 2005
i PMed the mods, not sure how many of them went out. We are ready for mod testing. The url and some notes are in the 'Moderators Lounge' any questions yu can try and PM Ari, Brad or me.
i PMed the mods, not sure how many of them went out. We are ready for mod testing. The url and some notes are in the 'Moderators Lounge' any questions yu can try and PM Ari, Brad or me.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 10:12 01 Apr 2005
i PMed the mods, not sure how many of them went out. We are ready for mod testing. The url and some notes are in the 'Moderators Lounge' any questions yu can try and PM Ari, Brad or me.
i PMed the mods, not sure how many of them went out. We are ready for mod testing. The url and some notes are in the 'Moderators Lounge' any questions yu can try and PM Ari, Brad or me.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by NoonChild on 10:58 01 Apr 2005
I didn't get this PM.
I didn't get this PM.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by NoonChild on 11:00 01 Apr 2005
I didn't get this PM.
I didn't get this PM.
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 11:57 01 Apr 2005
yeah, i wasn't sure .. i sent out four and two hung .. i wasn't sure if they went out or didn't go out or went out like many of my recent posts, two or three times. :| Did / can you get the url from the moderators lounge here? do you want me to try ad resend the PM ?
yeah, i wasn't sure .. i sent out four and two hung .. i wasn't sure if they went out or didn't go out or went out like many of my recent posts, two or three times. :| Did / can you get the url from the moderators lounge here? do you want me to try ad resend the PM ?
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 11:59 01 Apr 2005
yeah, i wasn't sure .. i sent out four and two hung .. i wasn't sure if they went out or didn't go out or went out like many of my recent posts, two or three times. :| Did / can you get the url from the moderators lounge here? do you want me to try ad resend the PM ?
yeah, i wasn't sure .. i sent out four and two hung .. i wasn't sure if they went out or didn't go out or went out like many of my recent posts, two or three times. :| Did / can you get the url from the moderators lounge here? do you want me to try ad resend the PM ?
[IMPORTANT] - Talk About Poss. Upgrade - by din on 12:01 01 Apr 2005
yeah, i wasn't sure .. i sent out four and two hung .. i wasn't sure if they went out or didn't go out or went out like many of my recent posts, two or three times. :| Did / can you get the url from the moderators lounge here? do you want me to try ad resend the PM ?
yeah, i wasn't sure .. i sent out four and two hung .. i wasn't sure if they went out or didn't go out or went out like many of my recent posts, two or three times. :| Did / can you get the url from the moderators lounge here? do you want me to try ad resend the PM ?